So this week as we start the new year and preparing our hearts to celebrate the goodness of God over 30 years,

I've been doing a lot of reflecting over God's goodness in the past three decades.

If you had asked me 30 years ago, what kind of church do you want to pastor?

I would have told you a million things because I was so excited.

I would have said I want to pastor a mission-focused church.

I want a biblically anchored church.

I want an evangelistic church that reaches people far from God.

I want a fast-growing church with people coming to Christ. Week after week, I want an innovative church. I want an influential church,

changing the city, and maybe the state, maybe even the world.

And if you ask me now, my answer would be similar, but it would be a little bit different.

I still want all those things for God's church.

But as I've matured a little bit over the last 30 years,

and I've grown to know God more intimately,

if you ask me now, above all else,

what kind of church do you want to pastor?

I would tell you, point blank, cleanly, clearly, in one sentence.

I want to pastor a church that pleases God. Above all else, I want God to be honored, the name of Jesus to be praised, and I want a pastor

church that pleases God.

And I want to tell you a little bit of the story and take you with me and why I would say

that.

There's multiple layers to it, and one of the things is I've noticed over the years that

many of you, maybe most of you, would be

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